Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, competes in the Southland Conference and has a basketball tradition anchored by occasional upsets and conference titles. The Demons play in one of the oldest communities in Louisiana.
The Demons nickname was adopted in the early 20th century, chosen for its fearsome and intimidating connotation to inspire the athletic teams.
The 2006 NCAA Tournament, when 14th-seeded Northwestern State won the Southland Conference title and then stunned 3-seed Iowa 64-63 in the first round on Jermaine Wallace's corner three with half a second left — one of the most famous buzzer-beaters in March Madness history.
Natchitoches, home of Northwestern State, is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory, founded in 1714 by the French.
The Northwestern State Demons compete in the Southland and hold an all-time record of 641–822 (.438 winning percentage) across 50 recorded seasons dating back to 1976-77.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 10-22 | 8-14 (Southland) | Rick Cabrera | |
| 2024-25 | 16-16 | 12-8 (Southland) | Rick Cabrera | |
| 2023-24 | 9-23 | 7-11 (Southland) | Rick Cabrera | |
| 2022-23 | 22-11 | 13-5 (Southland) | Corey Gipson | |
| 2021-22 | 9-23 | 5-9 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2020-21 | 11-18 | 9-7 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2019-20 | 15-15 | 11-9 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2018-19 | 11-20 | 6-12 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2017-18 | 4-25 | 1-17 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2016-17 | 13-16 | 7-11 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2015-16 | 8-20 | 5-13 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2014-15 | 19-13 | 13-5 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2013-14 | 17-14 | 12-6 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2012-13 | 23-9 | 15-3 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2011-12 | 16-16 | 8-8 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2010-11 | 18-14 | 10-6 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2009-10 | 10-19 | 5-11 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2008-09 | 11-20 | 3-13 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2007-08 | 15-18 | 9-7 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2006-07 | 17-15 | 10-6 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2005-06 | 26-8 | 15-1 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2004-05 | 21-12 | 13-3 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2003-04 | 11-17 | 8-8 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2002-03 | 6-21 | 6-14 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2001-02 | 13-18 | 9-11 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 2000-01 | 19-13 | 11-9 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 1999-00 | 17-13 | 11-7 (Southland) | Mike McConathy | |
| 1998-99 | 11-15 | 8-10 (Southland) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1997-98 | 13-14 | 10-6 (Southland) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1996-97 | 13-15 | 8-8 (Southland) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1995-96 | 5-21 | 3-15 (Southland) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1994-95 | 13-14 | 8-10 (Southland) | J.D. Barnett | |
| 1993-94 | 11-15 | 6-12 (Southland) | Dan Bell | |
| 1992-93 | 13-13 | 7-11 (Southland) | Dan Bell | |
| 1991-92 | 15-13 | 9-9 (Southland) | Dan Bell | |
| 1990-91 | 6-22 | 2-12 (Southland) | Dan Bell | |
| 1989-90 | 10-19 | 5-9 (Southland) | Dan Bell | |
| 1988-89 | 13-16 | 7-7 (Southland) | Dan Bell | |
| 1987-88 | 16-12 | 7-7 (Southland) | Don Beasley | |
| 1986-87 | 15-13 | 4-6 (GSC) | Don Beasley | |
| 1985-86 | 11-16 | 7-3 (GSC) | Don Beasley | |
| 1984-85 | 3-25 | 2-8 (GSC) | Wayne Yates | |
| 1983-84 | 6-22 | 2-12 (TAAC) | Wayne Yates | |
| 1982-83 | 9-19 | 5-9 (TAAC) | Wayne Yates | |
| 1981-82 | 19-9 | 10-6 (TAAC) | Wayne Yates | |
| 1980-81 | 11-17 | 5-7 (TAAC) | Wayne Yates | |
| 1979-80 | 5-20 | TAAC | Tynes Hildebrand | |
| 1978-79 | 7-19 | Ind | Tynes Hildebrand | |
| 1977-78 | 12-15 | Ind | Tynes Hildebrand | |
| 1976-77 | 17-9 | Ind | Tynes Hildebrand |
East Texas A&M Lions · Houston Christian Huskies · Incarnate Word Cardinals · Lamar Cardinals · McNeese Cowboys · New Orleans Privateers · Nicholls Colonels · SE Louisiana Lions · Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks · Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders · UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
All Division I programs · Historical rankings · Championship journeys · Hoopsipedia home
| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|